I recently bought a 1983 GL1100A Aspencade. When I put it into first gear from neutral, like at a stop light, the gear is still turning. Also, sometimes when I pull the clutch to change gears the lever goes mostly slack. I can move it more than half way before feeling resistance. This usually goes away pretty quick, but then will happen again in a few minutes. I cleaned the crankcase with seafoam three times and now have 3.5 quarts of Honda 10 30 oil in it, but it didn't make a difference. Is it time for a new clutch? Thanks in advance.

from what you are describing, clutch not disengaging and lever going slack, it sounds more like a cable / lever / linkage problem. make sure that the cable is correctly adjusted at both ends and that the lever is in good shape.

Thanks Indiana, that was a problem when I first got the bike. The cable was frayed with only a few strands left. So I got a new cable from Honda and that helped, but the above problems, so far, refuse to go away.

OK……….
you have an 83 therefore you do not have a lift lever adjustment. That takes one potential problem out of the mix.
Has this problem been there since you have had the bike???? Does the clutch disengage and engage properly, (other than that hanging up thing) does it slip under acceleration?

This is my take on the problem of the clutch lever being pulled in to disengage the clutch and having it hang up then release. AND the problem has been there since you have had the bike or did some work on the clutch.
There is a return spring on the clutch lifter shaft. You can feel the spring if you move the lift lever through the free play in the cable. The clutch springs along with this spring is the resistance you feel as you disengage the clutch (pull the lever to the bar).

The lift lever has a cam feature that acts against a Clutch Lifter Rod that pushes against a Clutch Lifter Guide that rides in a bearing that disengages the clutch. If something was not put together correctly (or worn real bad) this lever / cam feature could over rotate causing the cam to almost come on center not allowing the clutch to release.
Check the position of the lift lever. I took measurements of my 83 as an example (see Figures 7, 8 and 9). With the clutch disengaged (lever to the bar) the distance should be. approximately 2.30. If it is much less AND the clutch is hanging up then you could be centering on the cam.

This could also be caused by severely worn parts causing the lift feature to over travel or hang up in a “detent” worn into the clutch lifter rod (see Figure 6). Or too thick of a clutch pack stack up or “extra plate” (assembled incorrectly or incorrect parts).

Thanks again Indiana. I'll check the measurements today and let you know what I find. It has done this as long as I've had it. The clutch is not slipping under acceleration. It just doesn't disengage all the way when I shift (gears still turning). This happens when up shifting. Down shifting works okay, except, of course, when the clutch lever goes slack. Then it is hard to downshift, and I often have to work with the throttle and clutch to go down in gears.